The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik, here on Wednesday approved reforms to streamline the functioning of public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and societies, an official spokesman said.
He said it is important to point out that most of the public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies/societies in the state of J&K receive significant financial assistance from the Government. However, there have been issues related to transparency, equity and economy of expenditure in the creation of posts and recruitments which henceforth shall be made with the prior concurrence of the Finance Department. There have also been issues related to award of contracts by these bodies.
With today’s decision, no procurement of goods and servicesshall be made by the Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous bodies/Societiesaided by State Government without following a transparent bidding process.Besides, no contract shall be awarded by Public Sector Undertakings/AutonomousBodies/Societies without following a transparent bidding process.
Further, no new posts shall be created by the Public SectorUndertakings/ Autonomous bodies /Societies without the prior concurrence ofFinance Department and no recruitment against vacant posts shall be made byPublic Sector Undertakings/Autonomous bodies/Societies without the priorconcurrence of the Finance Department.
Moreover, no recruitment shall be made by Public SectorUndertaking/ Autonomous Bodies/Societies without following a transparentprocess including inviting applications through advertisements from eligiblecandidates, irrespective of class of the posts.
The Finance Department has been directed to issueappropriate instructions to these Public Sector Undertakings/AutonomousBodies/Societies for undertaking necessary amendments in their by-laws /regulations/AoAs as may be required.
APPROVES J&K VICTIM COMPENSATION SCHEME- 2019
The State Administrative Council (SAC) accorded approval tothe notification of the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme- 2019, anofficial spokesman said.
He said the scheme is aimed at providing immediate succor tothe victims of various crimes and their families and also to financially helpthe victim. The scheme is also applicable to the minor victims and compensationshall be awarded in heinous offences like loss of life, gang rape/custodial rape,rape, unnatural sexual assault, loss of limb, grievous physical injury or anymental injury, loss of foetus/miscarriage as a result of assault or loss offertility, pregnancy on account of rape, victims of burning-disfigurement/injury and victims of acidattack-disfigurement/injury.
Pertinently, the Victim Compensation Scheme of 2013 providedfor compensation ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 3 lakh for 8 categories of victims.The Victim Compensation Scheme-2019 provides for compensation to 15 categoriesalong with sub-categories of victims and compensation ranging from Rs 2 lakh toRs 10 Lakh. The scheme is more inclusive in that it includes two additionalheads, viz., death by torture in police custody and injury causing severemental agony to women and child victims in cases like human trafficking.
There is also a provision for constitution of a fund, whichshall be called the Victims Compensation Fund from which the amount ofcompensation, as decided by the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) or DistrictLegal Services Authority (DLSA) shall be paid to the victim or the dependent(s)who have suffered loss or injury as a result of an offence and who requirerehabilitation. The Fund shall be operated by SLSA.
A victim or the dependent (s) as the case may be, shall beeligible for grant of compensation under this scheme. However, the compensationreceived by them in the other schemes shall be taken into account whiledeciding the quantum of compensation.
The application/recommendations for compensation can bemoved either before SLSA or the concerned DLSA or filed online on a portalwhich shall be created by all SLSAs.
GREEN J&K DRIVE FROM JULY 8, 2019
In a major environment friendly initiative of planting 50Lakh trees by June 2020, the State Administrative Council (SAC) approved thelaunch of Green Jammu and Kashmir drive from July 8, 2019.
The massive plantation drive shall be organized by theForest, Environment & Ecology Department by involving Panchayats, CivilSociety, Educational and other institutions and other stakeholders to planttrees over degraded forest land, areas retrieved from encroachment, roadsideareas etc. In the 1st phase, the plantation activities will primarily befocussed in Jammu region where the plantation season has just started and 9Lakh trees over 2300 Ha are targeted for plantation this Monsoon season.
Further, the Department has been asked to make all necessaryarrangements for undertaking afforestation activities in various districts ofJammu province including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Nowshera, Billawar and parts ofRajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramnagar and Ramban. The department will also bedistributing plants to the masses and to the interested people forafforestation through Forest Department outlets.
Similar drive shall be undertaken as part of Green J&KInitiative in the month of November-December in Kashmir region and winter zonesof Jammu region and thereafter in March-April to achieve the target of 50 lakh trees by June, 2020.
REVIVES JUMBO ZOO PROJECT
The State Administrative Council (SAC) revived the Jumbo Zooat Khanpur Nagrota which was held up for lack of funds.
For this purpose, anarea of 163.42 hectare of land has been transferred to Wildlife Department. Thelocation is just 8 kilometers from Jammu City on the Jammu-Srinagar NationalHighway and on way to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. The project is estimatedto cost an amount of Rs 62.41 Cr to be completed by December, 2020.
The work on theproject was earlier initiated by the Wildlife Department through CAMPA fundingand some amount was utilized. However, the work was stopped due to change inthe guidelines of CAMPA funding which restricted the Government from allocatingany further funds. The Government has now revisited and approved the projectwith balance amount of 49.17 Cr to be provided through Jammu and KashmirInfrastructure Development Finance Corporation(JKIDFC).
The Zoo is expectedto serve as an added tourist attraction especially for tourists coming to visitJammu to pay obeisance at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Katra.
The revenue earningsfrom the project shall flow to the Government.
The Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology will ropein a person, with expertise in Zoo management to assist the department in theestablishment of the Jumbo Zoo.
Further, theDepartment of Forest, Environment and Ecology will examine the possibility ofdeveloping an area outside the Zoo as a tourist hotel complex with alliedfacilities on the state land in consultation with the Tourism Department forconvenience of the tourists/pilgrims.